I don't much like gift cards, because too often they're the gift that says "I have no idea whatsoever what you want or like, and I don't care enough about you to put any effort into finding out".

On the other hand, some people don't mind if you have that attitude (I've long since quit giving teenagers anything else), and I'd personally rather get them than some expensive, wildly inappropriate gift from someone who assumes I still want the same things I wanted 20 years ago.

But the bottom line is: never look a gift horse in the mouth.